Alabama Reflector Reporter

Job Description

The Alabama Reflector is seeking a reporter to cover education, politics and the Alabama Legislature in 2025.

The Alabama Reflector is an independent, nonprofit newsroom based in Montgomery. We’re part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. We’ve won awards for our political coverage (and were even named a Pulitzer finalist) in the last year. 

Our mission is covering Alabama politics and how they shape state policy, and the education beat is critical to that coverage. It touches on everything from curricula and teaching methods to governmental policy and longstanding gaps in educational resources and attainment. An enterprising reporter will find no shortage of subjects and issues to write about.

The job will also include covering the Alabama Legislature at least three months out of the year and attending monthly meetings of the Alabama State Board of Education.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on Alabama government and officials
• Contribute regularly to outlet’s briefs section
• Generate story ideas with the editor
• Pursue story leads, both self-generated and as assigned, with self-direction and solid news judgment
• Approach assignments on deadline with strong communication and follow through with the editor and colleagues
• Collaborate with other reporters on projects and to share research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
• Establish and expand digital media presence representing the outlet and use personal social media to amplify the site’s content, presence and voice
• Take photos and video to illustrate and amplify stories

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION

The salary for this position starts at $52,000.00, and rises with experience. Our generous benefits package includes:

• Premium-free platinum healthcare for employees and their families (i.e., nothing comes out of your paycheck!)
• 4 weeks of vacation per year
• 2 weeks of personal leave per year
• 20 hours of paid volunteer time per year
• 11 paid holidays per year
• $75 monthly cell phone reimbursement
• $200 cell phone replacement benefit every two years
• $75 monthly fitness benefit
• 401K with up to 3% match
• 12 weeks of parental leave
• Full-service EAP
• Annual DeleteMe subscription

Laptop and any necessary equipment will be provided by States Newsroom. 
 

ABOUT OUR CULTURE

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels — from quick hit to investigative — but not at the expense of burning out its employees. We are supportive, exciting, welcoming and positive. We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat.

States Newsroom’s mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission.

At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.

Job Requirements

The successful candidate will have at least two years’ experience at a news outlet (student journalism counts) and be able to write clearly and comprehensively about education policy, making complicated topics understandable to the layperson.

They will develop contacts in the Legislature and with education groups to stay on top of the latest developments for schools in Alabama. Experience covering education is preferred but not required. Candidates should also be prepared to start the job no later than mid-February. States Newsroom journalists are expected to produce at least four posts per week.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Authorization to work in the United States is required. All States Newsroom employees are required to have been vaccinated for COVID-19 within 30 days of hire.
 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply send a cover letter, resume with professional references and at least three links or clips to jobs@statesnewsroom.com.

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